We will have a calm and worry-free pregnancy with lots of jumping beans and bouncing babies and will BROOK NO ARGUMENT on that (Part 7)

[TooImmatureTurtleDoves]

And boo! No pancakes. My dad visited and i felt so bad I went to bed at about 4pm- definitely managed at least a short sleep and feel slightly better.

Fabulous scan news loopy and biscuits

Sorry, fairly random posting missing loads of people... Bit other-worldly feeling still after having finally managed a nap!! (Maybe my 10th ever ever ever, falling asleep being a big issue of mine :-) )

Sorry, yay for loopy and biscuits! Great news.

musical I bought this one from Amazon. It didn't come with any photos/cards or anything though to show how to use it. Just a pump. But it seems a good quality and the size was correct for my height.

I will never remember all that!

Yay for excellent scans, Loopy and Biscuits! I was told the same about the kidney issue, Biscuits - that the paediatrician would check Bean when she's born and advise us, but that it would probably mean nothing except perhaps regular check ups as she grows. Worst case scenario the kidney has no function at all, in which case they would want to take it out, but FX that won't be the case.

I would have been too at the yoga girl's 'success story'. They don't know what happened to DD1, but the best guess is that her cord was compressed during labour. Sometimes your body does really stupid things and I would have loved a bit of medical intervention, had anyone realised its necessity!

Dream, hurray for managing a nap!

DH made pancakes, mmm. I had butter on some and lemon and sugar on some. I want more now!

I am really getting fed up with work now. Only 8 more working days to go...

Congrats on the good scans Biscuits and Loopy! It's good to see the younger No Brookers are keeping up the good work!

Musical I bought this ball from Amazon. I actually bought it months before I was pregnant, to help with my sciatica issues, but it's exactly the same product as anything officially called a birth ball. Technically it's the correct diameter for my height, but when my physio saw it she said that actually given the angle of my hips when I sit on it it would have been better if I'd bought the next size up. Remember that although they base the ball sizes on your total height, all that really matters is the length of your legs, because ultimately you want your hips and your knees at a 90 degree angle when you sit on it. If you have long legs for your height it's worth considering a slightly bigger ball.

Also thanks for asking about the cs campaign. It's all in progress. I spoke to my physio a little while ago and she's going to have a letter of recommendation ready for me to collect when I see her tomorrow. I'll be able to send that letter to the consultant with my main letter setting out my reasons for requesting a cs, and then hopefully set up an appointment to discuss it all further. I'll be asking for lots of No Brooking when I'm actually due to meet with the consultant!

We've just found out that ANOTHER one of DH's cousins is pregnant. That means including the cousin who had her baby in January, there are SIX of us in his generation having babies this year - all due by the end of August, so all in the same school year! Crazy!! I'm hoping this won't turn into a giant competition Most of his cousins are super sweet though, so I think it'll be nice for our LO to have lots of second cousins? cousins once removed? to play with.

Hey, how ridiculous- I feel much better that the very matter-of-fact GP who used to live in our house and still lives in the village with her 3 dc popped round and said she'd absolutely have a CS in my situation. I clearly feel the need to justify my wimping out of a vb. If I'd heard yoga-girl I think I'd have cried biscuits (or was it scream?) She also describes childbirth as barbaric (but went overdue and was induced with all her three and only had an epidural for the last) so certainly not a wimp herself. This birthing thing puts a lot of pressure on you to do it 'right' which i hate, because there is no right!!!

Home stretch too, just think of all the extra time with your daughter- and so soon!!!

Just been reading the baby name discussion of the day, ds1 still doesn't like Dexter but DH and I have not come across any other names we both like. We have not discussed our name choice in RL. Should we try and find another or hope that DS changes his mind when he meets his little brother?!

Purple, the only thing stopping me from doing so is that if it is my waters, I've heard that it should be more of a constant trickle, rather than the very occasional mini gush?

Twinges sound exciting!

Thanks for the gym ball advice and recommendations! I've added them all to my to buy lists, to have a flick through properly at some point (the weekend maybe). Scream, I had one for my sciatica as well, but actually found it was doing me more harm than good (probably due to the cause of it being a bulging spinal disk!). So I chucked the ball - regretting it now. Will have to be careful when using it again in case it causes my sciatica to come back - I'm getting a few sciatic twinges every day now, but I feel lucky to have got this far with very few problems. It's one of the reasons for us starting a family while being younger- my spinal condition's genetic and will deteriorate with age, thus making it considerably easier to have children earlier rather than later...

Glad your campaign is progressing. Let us know when more intense super-focused brooking is required!

Too, hurrah for 8 more working days! I have 18 more teaching days, and between 4 and 8 days in the office (depending on how much I'm needed). Not that I'm counting.

Dream, glad the GP makes you feel better about wanting a CS! There is way too much pressure, I agree. The main reason I'm trying to avoid epidural and CS (and therefore trying everything as natural and mad as possible) is because of the potential effects on my spine - I don't completely trust the one odd anesthesiologist I saw. Everyone's completely different, and everyone's circumstances are different - so why should there only be one "right" way to birth?

DH cracked (diet wise!) and made us both pancakes :) So I splurged on the sugar, having being super-healthy all day again (not by choice - I have to take packed lunches, and to help DH we're only buying healthy things!). May have to treat myself to a creme egg tomorrow though...

Music not trying to scare you but, it could be a hindwater leak... If it is a fairly frequent thing I would get checked. Or make the call and see what MW says. Oh and I am 'younger' and glad as hate to think how my body would have coped if I had children in my mid to late thirties like I thought I would! I think sometimes these things happen because they should :)

Also wise about the spinal, it can cause problems even if you don't have nay problems so best not to aggravate. Saying that I would have had an epi last time if I had the time, I was advised to also as I was a CS risk constantly.

Dream I would be having a CS in your situation and I am scared of the CS!

Wants not your DS baby it is yours, DS may very well have his own babies soon and Dexter is a lovely name! Sorry if that is blunt :/

Scream something similar happened in my friends family about 5 of them in the same year and all girls! Some great photos of all the babies though :)

Too :( :( :(

I was also in the middle of labour thinking this is barbaric! How is it possible I am in so much pain, puking everywhere and stuck on a bed?! Bleurgh.
Entered transition a short while later and actually thought I was being tortured by demons in my own personal hell... I was so scared though with DDs heart rate dropping and not being able to move to ease the discomfort was horrible. :(
Still I felt so proud for surviving and pushing Dd into the world :)

wants I'd say try and find another name. It'll clarify the whole situation- when dh first suggested Benjamin for one of the twins I thought 'no way'. Not because its not a nice name but because we've a common surname, Ben's a common first name and i just didn't think it was a good idea. On trying to come up with anything else we can both agree on I'm coming round to it. Dh is not coming round to Finian! So i think you'll find there's nothing you like more, and be happy to persuade ds1. Or find something you all love. Win-win. :-)

musical, tmi but i have similar to what you're describing and its nothing like when my waters went last time. They said last time to wear a pad and see if the fluid was pinkish. I did and had no idea, but showed the mw who showed the Dr who both agreed it was amniotic fluid snd I did the lie on back for an hour, let it build up then speculum and test (+ve for amniotic fluid) then 2x scan 24 hr apart to confirm fluid was decreasing. Blooming hard to convince those staff were! Someone else with twins on that thread had leaking waters for about 5 or 6 weeks before her babies were born- the fluid does constantly replenish too, and they didn't bring her date for CS forward. I don't get it all- seems to be totally different policies depending where you are...

Doh- hit post too soon.

So def tell the mw, maybe have a pad to show her, and get checked if you think something isn't right. Dd did not stop wriggling in her constant way at all after my hindwater break :-)

They do seem to like it when you use a maternity pad to display your potential waters though. I got a face after my waters broke and I went into get checked - I just had a normal Always on. Was that just the MWs at my hospital?

Well I hadn't thought to open a pack of maternity ones yet!

X-post purple I'm 'younger' too- I had dd at 26 and will have 3 children at 28. I'm very lucky! I had 5 months of back pain after my epidural last time- I was unlucky, the consultant came but couldn't get it in, 4 or 5 goes. So think lots of digging around... The total fear in childbirth sounds familiar too. This thread is so reassuring, I really thought I did terribly last time, but maybe not so different to lots. And also I blame you for my constant eBay checking for ju ju be prepareds...

No jaggy, I got that face too and given a maternity one instantly!!! Lol

dream - I've been thinking that too - that my labour wasn't actually as unusual or weird as I thought it was compared to friends experiences. I've really like hearing about everyone's labour.

Purple, I don't think you're trying to scare me . I'm not that panicky about it, which I think says more about the fact it's probably discharge than waters.. but if I have another incident where I'm not sure tomorrow I'll definitely give the MW a call straight away.

Dream, join the TMI club . I wore a pad for a while yesterday, and it wasn't pinkish - though I've heard it could be any colour or no colour at all from various threads and websites, so it seems a bit ambiguous! The current thing making me think it's not necessarily a leak is that it's not constant. Though I have read plenty of threads where people have had a small leak, confirmed, but fluids then replenished and absolutely no problem? I wonder if leaks happen quite often but nobody realises because they often seal up? Hmm...

I will definitely tell her on Friday. I put a pad on yesterday, nothing happened.. decided I was just being paranoid so gave up and got on with work, then had another "maybe" incident earlier - typical.

Tricky name situation Wants - I wouldn't know which way to go :( All I know is that DH and I aren't sharing our names with anyone (in real life!) - though it may help that we still don't have a boys shortlist!

My epidural took 2 goes - it leaked or summat the first time and didn't work. I was off my face on G&A, but DH is still a bit traumatised as they got me to lean on him while they sited them!

Wants I agree with purple about the name. If you and your DH both like it, then that is more than good enough reason to use it. It's lovely you obviously value both of your older DS's opinions and they're so involved, but I think if one or both of them don't like your choice it's fair enough for you to just tell them that's what DS3's name will be. I bet he'll come round once he's here anyway.

Dream you will not regret the bag! I have packed it for my hospital stay.It even has coloured tabs so you can have one child's bits one side, to save muddles! Oh the changing mat is gorgeous and the bag coems with the bag clips and they are highly recommended themselves! Of course not always included on ebay.
In my bag so far, I have; 6 sleep suits, 6 bodysuits, jacket for baby, packet of maternity pads, nipple pads in a mesh pocket-10 pairs, 15 nappies, cotton wool (in changing mat pocket on outside) A bra or two? 6 pairs of knickers in a pocket, pjs with crop bra, a nightie, a t shirt for DH, jeans, vest top and t shirt for me going home + tunic top with leggings, socks and room to spare! My wash bag and medication will be going in front pocket. And separate bag for snacks, and will keep blankets with car seat.

I think the maternity pad is that they can see it better and gauge the weight .etc as Always dehydrates the liquid or something...

musical, my hindwater leak wasn't constant but was regular-ish, as in every hour or so, certainly at least every 4-5 I'd get a 'gush' and on obsessive knicker checking etc and wearing no pad to really gauge quantity it was fluidy not dischargy and too much in one go for discharge iykwim. Wet- oh I can't describe it!! But not like this. WHen i showed the mw she was suitable impressed with quantity. And today after feeling pleased with my pelvic floor, it's possibly starting to show the cough-cough-cough strain... way TMI!!

need nipple pads for my bag! and lansinoh. Must get buying and packing.... and races off for a quick eBay check

i got my lansinoh on amazon for a good price the other day. :)

Well I am a major wuss! I had leg cramp with Dd but I had my first bout this morning and was almost crying! The difference being this kept happening! I am now eating crisps in bed courtesy of my diamond of a Dh. And scared to sleep in case it happens again! My hips are aching and I have some period pain to boot! Whinge whinge whinge how am I going to do labour if cramp was so bad?!

Wowsers - I nip out for one evening and you guys go chit chat crazy!

Now let's see what I can remember as am posting on phone.

Musical - I agree it sounds wise to get that leakage situation checked out. Better to know for sure. When my waters went with DS, it was lots and lots of gushes every time I moved - so although they had gone, and I was losing a lot, it was neither one huge gush, nor a constant trickle.

Purple - your change bag sounds immense. I can't believe how much you've packed in it. I'm almost tempted to ask for photographic evidence of such packing prowess!!! I think I'll be taking a small wheelie suitcase though . To be honest, I'm taking a pack of 24 maternity towels and that's like half a suitcase right there!!

But owie owie owie for leg cramps . I had them worse with DS, and have narrowly avoided them often this time. My yoga teacher says try lots of ankle circles and flexing / pointing your toes before you go to bed to help.

Aren't bananas supposed to help too? I also found if I was quick enough off the mark and flexed my toes as soon as I felt the cramp coming I could divert it.

I was wondering though when I was in tears from had some rib ache last week how on earth I was going to manage labour. Or indeed how I ever had managed labour!

So I had my first NCT refresher course last night which was good. There are 5 of us (due between March and I think the latest was July) and they all seem nice. A nice mix of stories to tell from first births too! Nobody had a straight forward time last time so it's nice to go through all the issues from both your own labour / birth / early days but also to go through other people's as it sort of alerts you to what else could happen. I agree with what some of you were saying though, that talking last night and with what we discuss on here, it makes me think my labour wasn't quite as out of the ordinary as I'd thought!

And the teacher seems nice too and not all hippy dippy 'drugs are bad'. She was more of the opinion that we're lucky to have the technology of CS etc and formula because it allows people to make the right choices and have the right options available to them. Especially the girl last night who had three inductions that didn't work so had to have a CS. I wonder if that had happened 100 years ago if she'd still be preggers now

On the topic of back to back labours, I'm now wondering whether DS was! Nobody to my memory said he was, but nobody said he wasn't and they might not have clocked it until they fetched him out with the forceps? The reason I'm thinking this is that the NCT teacher said that to go into labour by waters breaking, and also to never get the urge to push were both classic signs of back to back babies, and relatively rare in back to front babies. So who knows!

Oh I also thought of something else annoying odd about the birth story girl from yoga. She had her baby last year (Novemberish perhaps?) but when she talked about the birth still referred to getting 'Baby' out and bonding with 'Baby', rather than 'her' or whatever her name is. (Unless she is actually called Baby? ). I found that a bit odd? I mean I know why people refer to 'baby' when you're preggo, but doesn't that normally stop once you've had them and given them a name!

I'm currently enjoying a sort of lie in because DS isn't up yet, I'm sure he'll be about soon but just relaxing in bed with a cuppa

purple and dream what is this amazing bag you are talking about??